Other Ways to Celebrate Your Fifteenth Birthday

If you are undecided about having a traditional celebration for your fifteenth birthday, there are other alternatives which allow you to welcome adolescence in a fun and unique way.

Consider the following tips:

A trip: Instead of the typical family cruise, maybe you can plan something fun and exciting like learning about an ancient culture, completing your family tree, or going to that place you always wanted to visit, whether it’s Paris or Alaska on a plane, boat, bike, train, backpacking… anything counts!

A challenge: Whether you want to learn how to windsurf, bungee jump, skydive, or go on an expedition to the Amazon, train for and finish a triathlon, climb a mountain or walk the Camino de Santiago… they are all memorable experiences that will last a lifetime and you can share them with your loved ones.

On the road: The best thing about turning fifteen is that you’ll soon turn sixteen, which means you are old enough to drive. If you are the type of person who can’t wait to get your hands on the wheel, perhaps you should use your quinceañera savings to buy a car, whether it’s new, old, your brother’s hand-me-down, or any car that is available. You will remember your first car more than your first kiss.

Money for school: It may not be the top item in a quinceañera’s wish list, but you are still in time to make a contribution or anything that can help you save for your higher education tuition. In a few years, you will know which gift was the best.

Make your dream come true: Now is the time to make your dream come true. You can swim with dolphins, meet a celebrity, go to the doctor or nutritionist to lose a few extra pounds, get braces, take a modeling, acting, singing, dancing, guitar, or sculpting class, buy the eyeglasses you want, not the ones your mom chose because they are long-lasting and cost less, redecorate your room, get a new wardrobe that fits your style, have dinner with your family at a famous restaurant, or anything you come up with. After all, the mind is its own place!

Community work: If making other people happy is what makes you tick, this is the perfect opportunity to show your kindness. Turning your quinceañera into a philanthropic project is not such a bad idea, especially when you can build a great community service record that can help you get into college or receive scholarships for your education.

This post is also available in: Spanish